Excuse me if this ends up being a double post I thought I had added one earlier.

We recently purchased 20 acres in Waller county near Pattison/Brookshire that back up to Irons Creek. It has been used for hay pasture for about 10 years. From what I could see mainly Johnsom grass, supposed to be some coastal, and also fertilized twice yearly.Long term plans horse barn with paddocks and house once the kids are out of college.We will continue to have hay baled on it until then.

There are also 25-30 old growth pecan trees 25-45 feet tall. They had allowed alot of underbrush of hackberry, yaupons, grapevine and dewberry to densly grow up.We had a dozer clear all that out down to the red dirt this past week, probabaly opening up 3 more acres.

My questions are what should we do to the bare dirt to protect the soil and keep new weeds/trees from growing in. What is the best plan to slowly progress it to a more equine related hay pasture? I have fed coastal for a long time but have seen Bahia fed and when around the race tracks they use alot of Timothy. I would assume coastal, bahia or possibly some other choices are best in this area.

I also assume with the pecan trees certain herbicides will be potential problems for the trees.

Any help or direction will be appeciated.

The best weed control is an herbicide followed by grass plantings that then choke out weeds in the future. While Bahia is often considered an "it will grow anywhere grass", it simply is not as nutritious as Bermuda managed the same way. Bermuda is also a prolific grower and should help you choke out the weeds faster than other choices for your area. Coastal is a good Bermuda as is Tifton 85. Jiggs is also good but not as "tasty" as the the Tifton for your horses.

I have 80 acres in Caldwell County that have been grazed the 30 years I have owned it. What grass is best for replanting the fields after this drought and when do I plant? Also fungus has killed 30 acres of post oak. What is best to plant there? Thanks